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A Dermatologist's Guide to Winter Skin Care

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Winter skin care routines can be intimidating. Many of us are faced with dry skin—thanks in large part to the harsh winds and cold temps—which can be difficult to get a handle on when Mother Nature isn’t on our side. The worst part? Often times we do our skin a favor, like moisturizing religiously, only to negate any positive effects by practicing poor winter skin habits. Think about it—are you keeping track of how long your showers are? Have you switched your moisturizer to one that’s equipped to fight against winter elements? If the answer is no, it’s time to pay more attention to the details, no matter how minor they may seem. We tapped board-certified dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner for his best winter skin care tips, and according to him just a few simple changes to your routine can help deliver skin that’s soft and smooth all season long.

TIP #1: USE THE RIGHT CLEANSER

By now you should be well aware that the basis of a healthy skin care routine starts with daily cleansing. The ritual is necessary to rid the skin of dirt, makeup, impurities, and excess oil. That said, not all cleansers are created equal. Some can strip the skin of hydration, making your dry winter skin even worse. Reach for one that’s hydrating, Dr. Zeicher recommends. “During the winter, it is important to use proper cleansers,” he says. “Traditional soaps have an alkaline pH and can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier. The newest generation of cleansers contain mild ingredients and actually give hydration benefits.”

Try the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, one of our favorite moisturizing cleanser for dry skin. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides, the formula treats your skin to all day, continuous hydration. Need some more recommendations? We’re sharing a full roundup of our favorite cleansers that won’t strip your skin dry, here.

TIP #2: TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS

A long, hot shower may sound like a nice escape from the bitter cold, but the side effects on your skin aren’t worth it. “Showers should be short, 10 minutes or less,” advises Dr. Zeichner. As for the water temperature, stick to lukewarm. “Excessive exposure to hot water can strip the skin of essential oils,” he says. “Keep the temperature of the shower around what you would expect a heated pool to be, approximately 84°F.”

TIP #3: MOISTURIZE OFTEN

This tip is a no-brainer. All skin needs hydration regardless of the season, but in the winter especially when dry skin plagues many, it’s important to be diligent. This can mean moisturizing your skin in between your morning and evening skin care routines. For instance, if you spend a prolonged period of time outdoors in the cold and windy conditions, moisturize your skin upon returning indoors. Also, apply your favorite facial cream and body lotion to your skin immediately after cleansing, showering, or exfoliating, while the skin is still slightly damp. According to Dr. Zeichner, every minute counts. He suggests moisturizing your skin within five minutes of getting out of the shower to lock in hydration.

Just as important as the amount you moisturize is the product(s) you use. Make sure you use a formula that caters to your specific type. Many moisturizers can not only hydrate the skin, but address additional skin concerns as well such as signs of aging, breakouts, and discoloration. Need a rec? Reach for La Roche-Posay Toleriane Riche. Formulated with the brand’s thermal spring water and shea butter, this moisturizer will handle your dry skin woes while also providing a soothing sensation. But that’s not the only moisturizer we’re fans of. We share a few more heavy-duty moisturizers to help combat dry skin, here.

Excessive exposure to hot water can strip the skin of essential oils,” he says. “Keep the temperature of the shower around what you would expect a heated pool to be, approximately 84°F.

TIP #4: INVEST IN A HUMIDIFIER

As you already know, the constant exposure to cold, windy conditions starts to take a toll on your skin’s moisture levels. Combine that with the blast of artificial heat at home and at the office and it’s no wonder your skin feels drier in the wintertime. An easy hack to help combat the harsh winter climate? “Consider getting a cool mist humidifier for the bedroom,” suggests Dr. Zeichner. “It helps replace moisture in the air and can keep the skin in as good shape as possible while you sleep.”

Tip #5: SPF Is Still Key

If you thought the days of lathering on sunscreen were over just because the temperatures plummeted, think again. You should be using a sunscreen or moisturizer formulated with SPF 30 or higher on a daily basis, regardless of the season. UV rays can still damage your skin, even during the colder months. “Even low levels of UV light exposure add up over a lifetime,” Dr. Zeichner says. “Even five minutes every day is a significant amount of exposure over many years.” To ensure your skin remains protected, you should be applying your favorite water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen each and every day. Check out our guide to finding the best sunscreen for your skin type, here!

Tip #6: Exfoliate Your Skin

It’s always important to exfoliate and slough away at dead skin cells. However, in the winter, it is a skin care must. As we mentioned, the cold weather can do a number on your skin. “In the winter, the skin tends to be more dry than it is during the summer because of cold weather and low humidity,” Dr. Zeichner explains. As for how often you should exfoliate, Dr. Zeichner says once per week is enough for most skin types. “It takes about two weeks for a baby skin cell to make its way from the lower level of the skin to the surface,” Dr. Zeichner says, “And then even more time for enough cells to accumulate to give the skin a dull appearance.” We’ve laid out some of our favorite face scrubs to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth, here.

Tip #7: Don’t Neglect Your Lips

One of the many woes that winter brings is perpetually dry lips. Your first instinct may be to lick them, but that could actually cause them to dry out even more. Licking your lips causes the saliva to evaporate quickly, which is why the relief is only temporary. A better solution to caring for your lips is to exfoliate away dead skin cells with a lip scrub once per week, and to follow with a hydrating lip balm or salve as needed. Keep a lip conditioner in your purse and on your desk so you can apply liberally throughout the day to keep excess dryness at bay.

Tip #8: Reduce the Appearance of Flushed Skin

With the harsh winter winds hitting us around every corner, our skin undoubtedly suffers the consequences. Especially for sensitive skin types, your skin may look a bit more flushed after being out and about in the bitter cold. While this rosy appearance may be welcomed by some, it can create an unwanted splotchy look that many would like to avoid. To help address the look of unwanted redness on the face, reach for a soothing face mask like the SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Mask. This intensely calming botanical face mask is formulated to rehydrate and soothe temporarily reactive skin. The perfect mask to get us through the dog days of winter.

Tip #9: Address Cracked Skin on Your Hands, Feet, and Elbows

If you’ve lived through an extremely cold winter at least once in your life, you may have experienced cracked skin on your hands, feet and elbows. Cracked skin can be caused by plunging temperatures and a lack of moisture in the air. By incorporating a heavy-duty body lotion into your skin care regimen, you can help manage cracked skin easily. Follow our complete guide to addressing cracked skin on your hands, feet and elbows, here!

Tip #10: Stay Hydrated

Your lifestyle choices play a major role in the appearance of your skin. As we’ve mentioned, dry or dehydrated skin can be more extreme during the wintertime, so it’s essential that you are drinking the adequate amount of water each and every day in addition to using moisturizing skin care products.

Tip #11: Wear a Scarf to Protect Your Face

You can’t do much about the whipping winds, and staying indoors all winter is not always a viable option. So, to help protect your skin against the elements, bundle up with cozy clothing and cover your face with a chunky scarf. This can help keep your skin as warm as possible (and reduce the risk of red cheeks) and create a barrier between the wind and your skin. Similarly, protect the skin on your hands with gloves and the skin on your feet with thick socks before heading outdoors.

When it comes to beauty, Claire will try just about anything once. She considers herself to be a true makeup and skin care junkie, and she has pictures of her vanity to prove it. It’s her mission to create engaging content for Skincare.com’s audience.